Automatic coupling.



B. W. DAVIS.

AUTOMATIC coUPLlNG.

APILICATON FILED NOV.30|1915 I 1,1. QS lntened Sept. 19, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Witnesses I v {Attorneya B. W. DAVIS. AUTOMATIC COUPLING.

t APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30| 1915. M9830@ Patened Spt. 19, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Witnesses i' e Attorneys.,

OFFICE.

BENJAMIN W. DAVlS, OF EVANSTON, WYOMING.

AUTOMATIC COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 30, 1915. Seria-I'No. 64,288.

utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

lzo

Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the inventionresides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the derailway tails of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed canbe made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanyingv drawing z--Figure 1 shows in side elevation, portions of a pair of vehicles, equipped with the couplers forming the subject matter of this application; Fig. 2 1s a fragmental vertical section wherein sundry parts appear in elevation; Fig. 3 isa top plan showing one of the coupling mechanisms; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

In theaccompanying drawings, the nul. meral 5 indicates the draw bar of a car,l

equipped with a coupler head1. Fixed to the coupler head 1 by means of securing elements 3is a depending, loop-shaped main frame 2 which, if desired, may be sustained by the draw bar 5 by means of braces 4.

Disposed to the rear ofthe main frame 2 is an auxiliary frame 6 which may be of approximately circular contour. Side links 7 connect the auxiliary frame '6 with the main frame 2, pivotally, the construction being such that the auxiliary frame 6 can move vertically with respect to the main frame 2. Disposed in front of the auxiliary frame 6 and preferably lying in a common vertical plane with the main frame 2 is a supplemental frame 8 which may be of rectangular contour as shown best in Fig. 4. Top and bottom links 9 pivotally connect the supplemental frame 8 with the auxiliary frame 6, the constructionl being such that the supplemental frame 8 may move horizontally with respect to the auxiliary frame 6. Since the auxiliary Vframe 6 can move horizontally with respect to the main frame 2, and since the supplemental frame 8 can-'move horizontally with respect to the auxiliary frame 6V, it will be obvious that the frame 8 will have, approximately, a universal movement, transversely ofthe line of advance of the car, with respect to the frame 2.

At one side, lthe supplemental frame 8 carries a rearwardly projecting socket 10, and upon its other side, the supplemental frame is provided with a forwardly opening funnel 11. The socket 10 and the funnel 11 are rigidly connected together by a cross bar 12- which may be formed in one piece with. a back plate 17 a support thus being provided for the member 8.

Mounted to reciprocate parallel to the line of advance of the rvehicle in casings 15 assembled with the supplemental frame 8 are pipe coupling heads 14 pressed forwardly into prominently presented positions by compression springs 16 interposed betweenthe rear ends of the casings and the vforward ends of the pipe'heads. To the rear of the frtime 8, the pipe heads 14 reciprocate in the backxplate 17. Laterally extended, helical springs 18 conn psthe supplemental frame 8 with the main Patented sept. 19, 1916. 1

`9o fra e2 and thus maintain'the supplemental 5 fra ecentralized with respect to the main trarnel j Disposed upon opposite sides of the auxiliary frame 6 are Vertical coiled springs 19, each coiled spring 19 embodying an upright arm 20- attached to the main frame 2 anda horizontal arm 21 attached to the auxiliary frame '6, these springs serving to uphold the auxiliary frame 6 and to centralize the s ame with respect t0 the main trame 2.j

Fixed to anddepending from the Jframe work of' the car is a bracket 22 spporting a socket 23 in which is mounted to rock both vertically and horizontally a ball 24 attached to the-rear end of a tube 25 in which is slidably received a plunger 26 carrying a ball 27 mounted 'for movement in the socket '10 which is carried b'y the 'supplemental frame 8.

Assembled with the rear ends of the pipe heads 14 by couplings 50 are pipe sections @'53 united by cou )lin -s with train 1ine J Y L sf lans P0L couplings 5G limit the forii i. movement of the pipe heads le under the action the springs if Fllie couplings 2Q ma be iensed with ii desirede but Atheir use adapts the device forming the subie-ct matter of this application to standard i, istruetions wherein the con, ire-sent. lnterposed in the le pipes are valves 3l, controlled by 'ne operating mechanisms The conm i 'ion of tile waives 3l and the operating nemarisins need not be described in de- 1,. since they may be of any desired form. i5 ln practical operation, Wnen a pair of with the structure 'forming ,.rizqter of this application are relation, the forward end on one car is received on the other car, thus 'is le on ene car with the i heads on the ether car, to the at a plurality of continuous5 train connections may be atl'ort ed, when the hre brought together. lt is to be obf that 'the plunger 26 is mounted to ride loue itudinally in the tube and thus tube 5, being' provided with `the ball 24; ..1 K, .1 uch is receu ed in the societ z3, u ill uaie The 16 serve to advance the heads le? to effect secure couplings betvveen Yrants in one car and the correi ne; eements on another car. Owing fact. that the auxiliary traine G can vertically 'with respect to the. main 2 and to the factthat the supplemen- -S can `nove horizontally with reauxiliary traine G, and, further, i the particular manner in which of the parte above specified are susby the s irings 19 and i8, the neces- A ovenients will be permitted7 when the plunger 2G one car is received by the funnel ll on another car, and guided into the central opening in the funnel,

Pwing tluis described the invention,

1s:- of the class des ribed, a car iframe; an auzili iframe lo- -d to tbe rear of the main frame; a supental -frame located in front of the 'dliary traine; links connectin" tliemain 'tb tbe auxiliary trame; links coni` auxiliary iframe with the supple- `eineg the respective links being; `n rectangularly disposed to give a vertical and nt tothe supplemental centralizing the supplene with respect to the main C. af'i leerse rraine; and a pipe coupling mechanism carried by the auxiliary frame.

a device ott the class described, a ti nie; means ior supporting the frame movably; a tunnel carried by 'the trame; a lengitudinally extensible7 funnel received plunger comprising relatively movable parts, one of which is swiveled in the frame; and car carried .means affording e.. swiveled mount-ing igor the other part of the plunger. ln a desi-ce of the class described, a main frame; an auxiliary frame located to the rear of the main frame; a supplemental frame located in advance of the auxiliary frame; coupling means carried by the supplemental frame; links connecting the auxiliary frame with the main frame; links connecting 'the auxiliary frame with the supplemental frame, the respective links beingsY mounted to move in rectangularly disposed planes7 thereby to permit a vertical and a horizontal movement in the auxiliary frame; spring means tor connecting the auxiliary frame to the main frame, thereby to centralize the auxiliary frame with the main frame; and spring means for connecting the supplemental frame to the auxiliary frame, thereby to centralise the auxiliary iframe with respect to the supplementa frame.

e. In a device of the class described, a car carried. loop-shaped main frame; an annular auxiliary frame located to the rear or" the main iframe; a supplemental frame located in advance of the auxiliary frame; a pair of horizontally movable links connecting the auxiliary framev ywith the supplemental traine; a pair of vertically movin@ links conneetingl the auxiliary frame with the main frame; springs connecting the main and supplemental trames, to centralise the suppleni'ental frame; springs connecting the main and auxiliary frames, to centralize the auxiliary frame; coupler heads slidable in the supplemental frame; spring means for advf'ancing` the coupler heads; a. funnel carried by the supplemental trame; a funnel received plunger passing through the supplemental frame; a ball on the plunger; a socket on the supplemental frame7 in which the ball is niovably mounted; a tube receiving the rear end of the plunger; a ball on the tube5 a socket in which the last 'specified ball is received; and car carried means supporting the said socket.

l'n testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, l have luireto atxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

lllitnesses:

dessu HATTEN, G2 R. s/TE. 

